EASTON, Mass. – Mercyhurst fell to Stonehill 2-1 on Monday in a competitive NEC matchup. Despite being outshot 23-6, the Lakers battled throughout, with goalkeeper Victoria Campana making eight saves to keep the game within reach.
Stonehill generated the first chances of the opening quarter, and Campana made a save at 10:11 to keep the game scoreless. The home side broke through at 13:57 to take a 1-0 lead. The Lakers answered with a late penalty corner from Finja Wunner at 14:55 and a follow-up shot from Ava Jones at 15:00, but trailed 1-0 after the first quarter.
The Lakers found their rhythm in the second quarter, working into the attacking end and earning a penalty corner from Wunner at 22:41, which led to a Helena Moon shot. Mercyhurst earned another penalty corner at 27:36 and followed with a Rachel Kosowski attempt at 27:47. Kosowski broke through at 29:25 off an assist from Wunner to tie the game at 1-1 before the quarter ended.
Wunner put a shot on goal early in the third quarter at 33:14, forcing a save from the Stonehill goalkeeper. Stonehill regained the lead at 38:43 to make it 2-1. The Lakers' defense then stood strong, holding off six Stonehill penalty corners from 40:55 through 43:26. Campana saved two of those attempts, and Mercyhurst blocked two more to keep the score at 2-1 entering the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Campana came up big again with saves at 51:29 and 57:28, and the Lakers' defense blocked multiple penalty corner attempts to keep the deficit at one goal. Ella Bressi recorded the Lakers' best chance of the quarter at 53:53, and Mercyhurst battled through the final whistle, though the score held at 2-1.
Lakers Top Performers
Rachel Kosowski led the Lakers' offense, scoring the team's lone goal on two shots, one of which was on goal. Finja Wunner contributed an assist on Kosowski's goal and put one shot on goal. In net, Victoria Campana played all 60 minutes and made eight saves.
